Shas

"We have set a goal of improving service to Israeli citizens." 

A haredi rabbi, Harvard graduate, law doctoral student, and IDF reservist: Interior Minister Moshe Arbel presents a complex picture.

The 100 mayors who wrote the letter to the Religious Affairs Minister were specifically expressing their opposition to a series of directives published by the Religious Affairs ministry on April 11.

The seemingly inconsequential spat between the two parties touched on simmering political tensions  on additional issues such as the haredi exemption from IDF service.

Attorney General: Government has yet to put forward a new plan.

Arbel added that there were 1,500 men in every haredi age-group who could be drafted immediately, and "who must be part of those carrying the burden."

With Netanyahu famous for pushing off decisions, expect Israel to try to reach an agreement with the bare minimum of haredi commitment.

The reason Likud MKs gave for opposing the bill: not wanting to raise issues now that would split the country.

Expecting Netanyahu and Deri to act right overlooks their leadership failures, transforming the conscription crisis from a potential Shas triumph into disaster for the State of Israel.

I decided to take my cat Medici – full name: HaRav Medici di Cuddlebutt Reich, a staunch supporter of Shas – to vote in the Jerusalem municipal elections.